Iran tells UAE disputed islands are ‘ours forever’
Arabianbusiness-- Iranian authorities have hit back at UAE attempts to resolve a ownership dispute over three islands claiming they “will remain [ours] forever”.
Iran on Sanday denounced UAE claims of sovereignty over the islands of Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs and accused “foreign powers” of pushing the Gulf state to renew its claims.
“This is an issue that was dictated on [the foreign minister] by foreign powers who want the Middle East to always be mired in conflict and tension,” Kazem Jalali, spokesperson for the Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy of the Iranian Shura Council, said in a statement to state-backed Fars News Agency.
The statement follows a UN Assembly address last week by the UAE Foreign Minister urging Iran to resolve the dispute by direct negotiations or via the UN International Court of Justice.